Teacher Wrote Love Notes To 13-year-old, Police Say

February 07, 1985|by SONIA CSENCSITS, The Morning Call

A former substitute teacher at Nazareth Area Junior High School "did tend to corrupt the morals" of a 13-year-old girl through love letters, "French kissing" and encouraging her to visit his apartment, according to a complaint filed by police.

Michael John Rodi, 42, of Stockertown, has been charged by Upper Nazareth Township police with corruption of minors for incidents that occurred on or about Dec. 31, 1984.

A criminal complaint filed byUpper Nazareth police states that Rodi, who was employed as a long-term substitute teacher at Nazareth Area Junior High School until resigning on Dec. 31, "did tend to corrupt the morals of a minor less than 18 years of age; to wit, the defendant wrote seven notes to a minor child being 13 years of age at the time. The defendant delivered the notes to the minor in his eighth-period science class at Nazareth Junior High School."

The document continues: "The notes express a feeling of love by the defendant toward the child and express a desire to meet the minor alone outside the school. In addition, the defendant met the minor on Dec. 28, 1984, and took her from Gracedale to the Newburg Inn for lunch."

It says Rodi "French kissed" the girl in the parking lot at the Newburg Inn, then returned her to Gracedale where he again "French kissed" her.

Rodi encouraged her to visit him at his apartment, the complaint says, and told her he would "make love to her and it would be beautiful."

The complaint says the defendant appeared at Gracedale on Dec. 31, 1984, to meet the minor "and was questioned by" Upper Nazareth Patrolman Alan Siegfried.

The document states the complaint was obtained "based on information received from the minor that the above occurred and an admission by the defendant that he committed the above acts."

Rodi was arrested and arraigned before District Justice Samuel Kulp of Northampton on Jan. 25, according to Upper Nazareth Police Chief Frank Klepeisz. He was released on his own recognizance on $3,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the office of retired District Justice Elmo L. Frey Sr. of Nazareth. Kulp and District Justice Harold Weaver of Danielsville have been working in Frey's office since Frey's retirement last month.